College Scholarships for Foster Youth
- Foster youth experience unique challenges that can act as barriers to higher education.
- Fortunately, many college scholarships exist just for foster youth.
- Grants can also help foster youth afford higher education.
- It is possible for foster youth to go to college for free.
According to the National Foster Youth Institute (NFYI), only 50% of U.S. foster youth graduate from high school. Less than 3% graduate from a four-year college. These low completion rates are due to a variety of factors, including unstable home life, not enough financial support (from family or the government), and a lack of access to technology.
However, foster youth scholarships can help this vulnerable population access higher education. So how can they find scholarships for college and beat the odds?
Financial Challenges of Foster Youth
Many foster youths live below the poverty line when they are in high school. By the time they get to college, they have to manage new financial challenges. Once out of the foster care system, they must pay for housing, food, tuition, books, and a computer with internet.
Per NFYI, only 3% of foster youth earn a degree from a four-year college. Navigating college life is difficult when resources are limited. But foster youth can go to college for free, graduate, and find gainful employment.
Featured Scholarships
Horatio Alger Association National Scholarship
- Who Is Eligible?: High school juniors with college ambition who have overcome great adversity, including foster care
- Application Deadline: March 15, 2023
- Scholarship Amount: Up to $25,000
Family Fellowship Scholarship
- Who Is Eligible?: College-bound former foster youth who are between the ages of 18 and 23 and U.S. citizens; 2.5 GPA requirement
- Application Deadline: July 31, 2023
- Scholarship Amount: Up to $12,000 annually for five years
All-Star College Scholarship
- Who Is Eligible?: College students in need who have gone from foster care to permanent guardianship or adoption after the age of 13; 2.5 GPA requirement
- Application Deadline: Varies
- Scholarship Amount: Up to $10,000 per year
Casey Family Services Alumni Scholarship
- Who Is Eligible?: Casey Family Services Foster Care alumni between the ages of 16 and 49, living in Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont
- Application Deadline: No deadline
- Scholarship Amount: Up to $10,000 total
David E. Ballard Scholarship
- Who Is Eligible?: Full-time college students with 60 credits who have been unhoused or in foster care, pursuing live entertainment as a career path; 2.5 GPA requirement; U.S. residential requirement
- Application Deadline: Varies
- Scholarship Amount: $10,000, paid in two installments over two semesters
Jennifer Casey Alderman Legacy Scholarship Award
- Who Is Eligible?: College students in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, or Tennessee who have lost a parent (or are facing financial hardship) due to breast cancer
- Application Deadline: April 15, 2023
- Scholarship Amount: $10,000, paid in four installments over four years
Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship Program
- Who Is Eligible?: College students whose parent was killed or permanently disabled during roadway work
- Application Deadline: February 15, 2023
- Scholarship Amount: Up to $10,000
Orphan Society of America Postsecondary Education Scholarship Program
- Who Is Eligible?: College or trade-school bound students who have lost one or both parents to violence; U.S. residential requirement
- Application Deadline: March 31, 2023
- Scholarship Amount: Up to $8,000 annually
Foster Care to Success Scholarship
- Who Is Eligible?: College-bound youth who have spent at least 12 consecutive months in foster care; U.S. residential requirement
- Application Deadline: March 31, 2023
- Scholarship Amount: Up to $5,000 annually for up to five years
ReWritten Scholarship
- Who Is Eligible?: College or trade school-bound students with no fathers who can demonstrate need
- Application Deadline: May 28, 2023
- Scholarship Amount: Up to $5,000 annually
Grants and Tuition Waivers for Foster Youth
Education and Training Voucher Grant
- Who Is Eligible?: College-bound current or former foster youth who have completed the FAFSA
- Application Deadline: With FAFSA
- Grant Amount: Up to $5,000 for five years or until age 26
California State University Tuition Waiver
- Who Is Eligible?: Current or former foster care youth in California enrolled in undergraduate classes in the CSU system who are in good academic standing and under 25 at the start
- Application Deadline: Annually, before the school year
- Grant Amount: Cost of tuition at state schools
New York State Excelsior Scholarship Program
- Who Is Eligible?: Current or former foster care youth in New York with demonstrated need, enrolled in college
- Application Deadline: Annually, before school year
- Grant Amount: Cost of tuition at state schools
Texas State College Tuition Waiver
- Who Is Eligible?: Current or former foster care youth in Texas who meet the GPA requirement and are enrolled in college before their 25th birthday
- Application Deadline: Annually, before the school year
- Grant Amount: Cost of tuition at state schools
Florida Independent Living Tuition and Fee Exemption
- Who Is Eligible?: Current or former foster care youth in Florida
- Application Deadline: Annually, before the school year
- Grant Amount: Cost of tuition at state schools
Additional Ways to Find Financial Resources
- Chafee grants in each state, such as the California Chafee Grant (up to $5,000) and the Chafee Funds Program of New York State ($1,750) are good options for foster youth looking for college grants.
- Check in with your specific university as they can show you how to search for scholarships and may offer their own. For example, the University of Washington offers a diversity scholarship of up to $40,000.
- Counties, municipalities, and local organizations are other possible sources of scholarships for foster youth. For example, residents of the San Gabriel Valley in Southern California can qualify for regional grants and more.
- If you’re the first person in your family to attend college, you can look for scholarships for first-generation students. The Paul and Daisy Soros Scholarships for New Americans is just one example.
- You may be able to secure funding before you graduate high school if your school has a scholarship program of its own. This can include scholarships and grants for foster youth, as well as merit-based scholarships.
Frequently Asked Questions About Scholarships for Foster Youth
What does it mean to be a foster youth?
A foster youth is a minor who cannot live with their parents due to reasons that have disrupted the family structure. Foster youth are wards of the state that they live in.
Foster youth are typically placed with other family members or foster families temporarily, though some of these arrangements may last a long time. Foster youth may live in alternative settings such as group homes or long-term care facilities.
What percentage of foster youth have a college degree?
According to NFYI, only 3% of people who have lived in foster care graduate from a four-year college. This low figure is due to the unique challenges that foster youth face, sometimes including poverty and instability. Many former foster youths have difficulties in college due to financial concerns and a lack of familial support.
Are scholarships available for foster youth students by major?
Scholarships are available for foster youth students by major. For example, the David E. Ballard Scholarship is awarded to students interested in live entertainment. Students who major in music production, hospitality, live event operations, and more may qualify.
Many other institutions also award scholarships based on major. Consult with your high school guidance counselor or college financial aid office to learn about possible options.